Combination toy



H. F; BENZE COMBINATION TOY Aug. 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 50, 1946 8 In uentar E'eagflfieaze g- 5, 1952 H. F. BENZE 2,605,812

' COMBINATION TOY Filed Sept. 30, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Hein .17 Benz? H. F. BENZE COMBINATION TOY Aug. 5, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 50, 1946 I l II I ll Inventor Ew g I! flanza Attorneys Patented Aug. 5, i952 UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION TOY Henry F.- Benze, Emmett, ltlebr. 7 Application September so, 1946, Serial No. 700,285

I ,1 I 501mm. (01,-155-4 1) 1 This invention relates to a combination toy and has for its primary object to'afiord entertainment and amusement for children."

Another object is a toy which is convertible from a hobby horse,'into a tricycle and also" into a wagon: e

A'still fu ther object of'the invention is "to ar ford variationsin appearance of the tric'yclef so that'when it is used .as a tricycle, or as ahobby horse the contour thereof may be changedto af ford variety. d

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features, a pair of Sideboards, one edge of each side board, being curved longitudinally to form a rocker, apair of removable axles extending between the side boards to hold the curved edges thereof in spaced relation/and a wheeled carriage demountably supported between the straight edges of the side boards to form a seat upon which achild may sit and rock.

Other features include a steering column on the tricycle, a handheld detachably connected to fthe; steering column whereby different cohtours of hand -11 1ds-may be substituted,' and means carried by the tricycle detachably to mount the tricycle on the side boards when the tricycle is to be used asa hobby horse. 'j V Still further features" include turning the rear axle of the tricycle so that it will extend'lo'ngi tudin ally of the body thereoftofit between the side boards, or turning the axle to extend trans-j versay' of" the-bodythe'reof and a wheeldetachably mounted on the axleto' permit such turning and means .car'riedby'the tricycle to support the wheel when itisfdetached from T the axle.

1 Still other features include a bottom board hingedto "each side lbo'a'rd adjacent the straight edge thereof, axles extending between-the side boards, means carried by the axles for engaging opposite ends of the bottom boards and end boards "detachably mounted between the side boards and resting on the bottom boards to form a Wagon, and wheels on the axles.

In the drawings:

"Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination toy embodying the features of this invention" showing'the same assembled to produce a hobby horse,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line |2+2 of Figure 1, a

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the combination toy assembled to produce a wagon,

Figure 4 is an end view of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of hand hold,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tricycle illustrating a further modified form of hand hold in place thereon, v

Figure 7 is a top plan view of Figure .3, "Figureilis an end view of Figure 3,

Figure 9 is a perspective View of one of the axles, and Figure 10 is a bottom plan viewof the tricycle.

Referrin to1the drawings in. detail, this improved toy comprises a pair of sideboards l5 each of which is provided with a longitudinally curvededge I6 and a straight edge l1. Formed in the side boards near the curved edges are longitudinally spaced openings 18 (Figure 3) the purposeof which will be more fully hereinafter explained. Formed in the side boards l5 adjacent opposite ends, and extending perpendicular to the straight edges H thereof are grooves l9 (Figure 3) vthe purposeiof which will more fully hereinafter appear. Secured to the side boards adjacent the straight edges l7 thereof are hinges I20 to which lbottom boards 2I- are secured in such a manner that when the device is in use as a hobby horse these bottom 7 boards will lie against the inner sides of theside boards l5 as will be readily understood upon reference to Figure 4. I

A component part of this toy comprises a tri-' cycle designated generally 23 which is formed of a base-board 24 carrying a back 25 and side arms 26 to form a seat upon which a child may rest.

The bottom .24 is cut-away'at opposite sides as at 21 (Figure 6) to accommodate the childs legs, and pivotally supported adjacent the end of the board 24 opposite the seat is a steering column 28, the upper end of which is bifurcated as at 29 to receive the lower end of a hand hold designated generally 30. As illustrated, the hand holds 30 may be made in any suitable design, for instance, as a steering wheel 31, a ducks head 32'or a horse head 33. In the event that the ducks head or horse head is employed, each is provided with a laterally extending hand-grip 34 which 'may be grasped by the hands of the occupant of the seat to provide a handle bar by means of which the tricycle may be steered. A suitable traction wheel 35 is mounted in the lower end of the steering column 28 and equipped with suitable'crank arms 36 carrying pedals 31 by means of'which the tricycle 23 may be propelled. r

Pivotally supported as at 38 (Figure 10) beneath the seat of the tricycle'is the rear axle 39 thereof to opposite ends of which are detachably connected wheels 40 and 4|. These wheels are preferably held in place by suitable cotter pins :12 so that on or the other of thewheels may be demounted from the axle to permit it to be moved about the pivot 38 so as to lie in a plane longitudinally of the tricycle. As seen best in Figures 2 and '10 suitable friction member 42 projects downwardly from the underside of the pivot 38 and serves as a support for the wheel 4| when the axle is moved into its longitudinally extending position. -A suitable substantially U-shaped spring 43 is carried by the underside of the base-board 24, and is adapted when the axle 39 extends crossways of the longitudinal axis of the tricycle to engage the side edge thereof and hold the axle in proper position for use. Attached to the member 24 adjacent its forward ends are supporting brackets 44 each of which extends laterally from the member 24 and is provided with an eye 45 the purpose of which will be more fully hereinafter explained. Pivotally supported adjacent the rear end of the member 24 and immediately behind the back 25 of the seat are supporting brackets' iii'which like the brackets 44 are provided with eyes 41 the purpose of which will more fully hereinafter appear.

Axles designated generally 43 (Figure 9) are provided at opposite ends with circular cylindrical extensions upon which wheels '50 are detachably mounted as by cotter pins Each axle 58 comprises an elongated body 52 of substantially rectangular cross-section to form shoulders 53 at opposite ends, and extending longitudinally of each axle member-'52 is aZ-bar 54 the'pur- V pose of which will more fully hereinafter appear.

The web of each Z'-b'ar'54 is provided adjacent opposite ends with elongated slots'55 by apurpose to be more fully hereinafter explained.

End boards'iiti which when the device is used as a wagon as illustrated in FigureB fit in the grooves 19, carry adjacent opposite ends angularly extending hooks 51 which are adapted when the boards are used as above described to engage in eyes 53 carried by the side boards near the grooves I9. Suitable eyes 59 are 'carried at opposite ends of the bottom boards 2| and are adapted to project through the slots of the Z-bars 54 to hold the bottom boards 'inproper position when the device is constructed to produce a wagon, and extending through the eyes- 59'are the hook ends 68 of a twisted wire tongue 6|.

When thedevice is to be used as a wagon as illustrated in Figure '3, the tricycle 23 is not employed in the construction of the wagon. The bottom boards 2| are swung'on their hinges to extend perpendicular to the side boards and the axles 48 are placed beneath the straight edges ll of the side boards in such a manner that the top flange of each Z-bar 54 overlies a portion of the end of each bottom board 2|, '(see Fig; 2), with the side boards l5 engaging the ends of the Z bars. In this position the eyes 59 will project through the slots 55 and-may be held in this position by' extending the hooks 66 of the tongue 6| through the eyes. The wheels 50 are then mounted on the axles 48 and held in place on the cylindrical extensions 49 thereof by means of the cotter pins 5|. The end boards 56 are then introduced into the grooves l9 so that the hooks 51 will engage in the eyes 58, and thus'hold the side boards in proper position on the axles, to

form a wagon.

A suitable substantially U-shaped spring clip 52 (Figure 7) is introduced into the-eyes 6B at'the end of the wagon opposite the tongue BIin'or-der securely. to lock the parts together.

When the device is to be used as a hobby horse, the cylindrical extensions 49 are projected through the openings l8 in the side boards l5 with the curved edges l6 of th side boards turned downwardly. The tricycle 23 is introduced between the straight edges of the side boards as illustrated in Figure l with the brackets 44 and 4 5 resting en the straight edgesl'l ,to, support the tricycle iniposition to provide a convenient seat. Suitable eyes'63 project outwardlyfrom th side boards l5 adjacent the straight edges l1 and are extended through the openings 45 and 41 of thebrackets 44 and 46 respectively, and a suitable locking bolt 64 is extended through the eyes as illustrated in Figure 1 securely to hold the tricycle in place.

In order to support the spare parts suitable spring clips 65 are located at convenient points on the inner sides of. the side boards |5 and are shaped to conform to the contours of the parts which they areadapted to engage.

From the-foregoing; it=will be seen that an unusually versatiletoy is provided which may be utilized in various different ways to afford entertainment and amusement for children,an d a child who maybe mechanically inclined may have the pleasure'of constructing the various different items, and interchanging the parts to suit his desires.- v

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understoodthat minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of par-ts maybe resorted towithout departing from the spirit and scope .of .the invention as claimed.

I claim: i

1.. In a collapsible toy cart a pair of side boards, the top edge of each'side board being curved-longitudinally, a bottomboardhingedtoeach side board adjacent the straight edge thereof, axles extending between the side boards, means carried by-the axles=for engaging opposite vends of the bottom boards and end boards detachably mount ed between theside boards and resting on the bottom boards. 7 7 I v p I 2. In a toy-a pairof -side1boards,.one edge of each side board being curved longitudinally to form arocker,:means to holdthe side boards in spacedrelat-ion, a wheeled carriage demountably supported on the straight edges of the side boards, an axle pivotally mounted on the carriage' to move through an arceof 90. degrees and wheels on the what least one-of which may be removed from the axle to permit the axle to extend longitudinally between the-side boards when the carriage is ln positio-n onthe side boards 1 -3. In a combination toy, a pairof side boards, one edge of each side board being curved longitudinally to form a rocker, means'extending between the side boards to hold themji-nzspaced relation, a wheeled carriage vdemountably supported between the straight edges of the side boards, an axle pivotally mounted on the-carriageto move throughwan are of wheels on the axle at least one of which may be removed from the axle to permit the axle to extend longitudinally between the side boards when the carriage isin position on the SldEbOflI'dSyfiPOSt on the carriage, an interchangeable hand-hold secured detachably to the postyand means to detachably secure the carriage on the side boards.

4. A collapsible toy comprising a-pairof side boards, said side boards having a straight edge and a curved edge, detachable means for supporting said side boards in spaced relation and adapted to be provided with wheels, vertical grooves on said side boards adapted to receive end boards, removable child supporting means mounted on said side boards, said supporting means comprising a seat portion, a steering column positioned on said seat portion, a hand hold removably mounted on said steering column, said handhold adapted to be interchangeable with a plurality of hand holds removably mounted on said side boards.

5. A collapsible toy comprising a pair of side boards, said side boards having a straight edge and a curved edge, detachable means for supporting said side boards in spaced relation and adapted to be provided with wheels, vertical grooves on said side boards adapted to receive end boards, removable child supporting means mounted on said side boards, said supporting means comprising a seat portion, a steering column positioned on said seat portion, a hand hold removably mounted on said steering column, rotatable means on said supporting means, said rotatable means being provided with pedal means whereby a child sitting on thesupporting means can rotate said rotatable means.

HENRY F. BENZE'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 142,512 Cronk Oct. 9, 1945 419,405 Bessette Jan. 14, 1890 545,712 Morton Sept. 3, 1895 1,113,328 Goggin Oct. 13, 1914 1,354,400 Humphreville Sept. 28, 1920 1 1,364,684 Beck Jan. 4, 1921 1,371,198 Daum Mar. 8, 1921 1,478,449 Meister Dec. 25, 1923 1,481,650 Murphy Jan. 22, 1924 1,516,105 Kinoshita Nov. 18, 1924 1,872,216 Appleby Aug. 16, 1932 1,952,467 Slee Mar. 27, 1934 2,333,073 Mueller Oct. 26, 1943 2,429,213 Bennett Oct. 21, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,938 Great Britain Mar. 14, 1888 

